What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sullivan has the most kids (18% under 18).

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sullivan	Appleton
People
Population	1,246Lowest	1,360Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME	49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME
	Appleton and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%	15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Sullivan and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Appleton and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Sullivan and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,643±$14kHighest 20% below ME	$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME
	Sullivan and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME	$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME
	Appleton and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME	$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,228Lowest 27% below ME	$3,588Highest 18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±23.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 7% above ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	12.6%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9%	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Sullivan and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 24	Appleton Public Schools
High school in town	Sumner Memorial High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.